a dog-eared town

So there’s a story over on Boston.com about the Red Sox and them trying to figure out whether or not they should have traded to get Eric Gagne. Personally, I think the Sox put way too much effort to find players that are recently hurt, ie Gagne and JD Drew, but I’m not in charge.

I think the following email really supports my view that the Sox are putting too much emphasis on the wrong types of players.

When the Boston Red Sox were considering acquiring Gagné, a Red Sox official made specific inquiries about Gagné’s possible use of steroids. In a November 1, 2006 email to a Red Sox scout, general manager Theo Epstein asked, “Have you done any digging on Gagne? I know the Dodgers think he was a steroid guy. Maybe so. What do you hear on his medical?” The scout, Mark Delpiano, responded,

“Some digging on Gagne and steroids IS the issue. Has had a checkered medical past throughout career including minor leagues. Lacks the poise and commitment to stay healthy, maintain body and re invent self. What made him a tenacious closer was the max effort plus stuff . . . Mentality without the plus weapons and without steroid help probably creates a large risk in bounce back durability and ability to throw average while allowing the changeup to play as it once did . . . Personally, durability (or lack of) will follow Gagne . . .”

Look at that second paragraph again.

Lacks the poise and commitment to stay healthy, maintain body and re invent self. What made him a tenacious closer was the max effort plus stuff . . . Mentality without the plus weapons and without steroid help probably creates a large risk in bounce back durability and ability to throw average while allowing the changeup to play as it once did . . .

So they KNEW all this and still traded for the guy? They knew he was a no good roid boy who didn’t have it mentally and yet they still thought he would help out. Makes me really wonder about Theo and the rest of the brass.

Of course Gagne just signed a $10 million dollar deal and the Brewers put out a statement that was rather ironic, of course I can’t seem to find it so maybe it was pulled back or something. Anyway, it said the Brewers got Gagne because they thought it would make the team stronger. And if you think of it, that’s poorly worded considering the Mitchell Report and all.